Boss who welled up after beating Swansea says Baggies are "a family altogether. The people have shown me great kindness. I owe them a lot"

El of a guy: West Brom fans spell out their support for Spaniard Mel at Swansea

Pepe Mel has vowed to deliver Premier League survival for West Brom's fans after they stuck by him.

Spaniard Mel endured a torrid start to life as head coach at The Hawthorns, failing to record a win in his first seven matches as the club considered sacking him.

Dave McDonough, who championed Mel’s appointment, was instead axed as director of technical performance and scouting.

But the Baggies’ faithful took Spanish flags to Swansea last week in tribute to their new boss Mel.

The visitors triumphed 2-1, after trailing 1-0 at the break, and Mel was on the pitch at the final whistle, hugging his players, applauding the fans - and welling up as chants of “Ole, Ole, Ole, Pepe, Pepe” rang out.

Ahead of Saturday’s trip to Hull, the 51-year-old former Real Betis boss admitted: “I did become very emotional. I’ve only been here two months, in a different country with a different language.

“The people have shown me great amounts of kindness already. I feel that I owe them a lot. I owe the fans the right to be in the Premier League – I feel I owe them that.

“Eight matches here, only one win, but the fans always are very kind with me. It is incredible. I think West Brom is a family altogether – the staff, fans and players. It is important for the future.”

Mel insists the players are fully behind him too, despite unrest in the camp which preceded McDonough's sacking.

The Spaniard added: “When the referee whistled the end of the match at Swansea, Ben Foster, Liam Ridgewell, Steven Reid, Jonas Olsson and Youssouf Mulumbu were all together hugging. It was real.”

Mel will name Gareth McAuley as captain against Hull, with Jonas Olsson suspended and Chris Brunt injured.